Page 114 of Don't Puck His Best Friend
Me:Is Cole okay?
Maddie:Don't know.
She's waiting when I arrive, pulling me into a hug before I can even set down my bag.
"What happened?" she asks.
"Liam cornered me at the bathroom. Said we needed to talk, that we have unfinished business. Cole saw us and..." I trail off, not needing to finish the sentence.
"They fought again."
"Yeah."
She pulls me to the couch, and I collapse onto it, suddenly exhausted. "I can't keep being the reason they destroy each other."
"This isn't your fault."
"It is, though. If I'd never hooked up with Liam, if I'd just said no that first night—"
"Then you wouldn't have Cole. And you love Cole."
"I do love him. So much it scares me sometimes." My voice breaks. "But I don't know if love is enough when everything else is falling apart."
“It’s not falling apart.”
“I don’t like how aggressive he is,” I admit.
Maddie smirks. “He’s a hockey player. It’s nothing, really. Don’t make it a thing.”
“I’m not making it a thing!”
My phone rings again. Cole. I stare at it until it goes to voicemail.
"You have to talk to him," Maddie says gently.
"I know. Just... not yet."
She doesn't push. We sit in silence until Sirus comes home twenty minutes later, looking grim.
"How bad?" Maddie asks.
"Bad. Marcus and I got them separated, but Cole's got a black eye and Liam's nose might be broken. Some genius filmed itand posted it to social media, so Coach is going to lose his shit tomorrow." He looks at me. "Cole's looking for you."
"I know."
"You should call him back."
"I will." But even as I say it, I'm not sure I'm ready.
My phone buzzes with a text.
Cole:Please tell me you're okay. I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry.
Then another.
Cole:I love you. Just let me know you're safe.
I type out a response with trembling fingers.
